Nigeria international Odion Ighalo has joined Saudi Professional League side Al Hilal after leaving their local rivals Al-Shabab.

The former Manchester United forward has signed a one-and-a-half-year deal, which will keep him at the club until 2023.

Before moving to play in Saudi Arabia, he had played for clubs in Norway, Italy, Spain, England and China.

He joined Manchester United on loan in January 2020 from Shanghai Shenhua, but due to limited game time, he left a year later and joined Al-Shabab.

In a total of 31 league appearances for Al-Shabab, he scored 21 goals and is the league’s top scorer for the current season, having found the net 12 times before joining Al Hilal.

His new team currently sit fourth in the table, one place below the team he has just left.

32-year-old Ighalo has won 35 caps for Nigeria and scored 16 goals.

He had announced his international retirement in 2019, but returned to the Nigeria team last year.

He was due to link up with the Nigeria squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2022, but Al-Shabab refused to release him to play.

Al Hilal are the most successful team in the history of the Saudi Professional League, having won the title 17 times.

They are the current champions and also clinched the Asian Champions League title last season when they beat South Korean side Pohang Steelers in the final.

That win meant that the team qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup. 

His new club will be hoping that Ighalo can continue his goal-scoring form in the league and move them into contention for another title.